In early 2014, there was a lot of dissatisfaction expressed with the 1.2 engine and its poor performance. Criticisms included hesitation when pulling away, sensation of a "flat spot", very poor hill start power. Several forum members complained about these failings, including David Bliss who carried out very detailed investigations, and the problem became a subject of investigation by the BBCs "Watchdog" programme. Can anyone tell me if Fiat have carried out any corrective measures to solve these problems, or was it just a bad batch of engines/ECUs, and has the problem been resolved for current deliveries of the latest available Panda 1.2?
Technical 2014 Panda 1.2 Lounge - Poor Performance
- Thread starter Mrs Wood
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Technical 2014 Panda 1.2 Lounge - Poor Performance
Hi. It was the fuel mapping. That was EURO 5
Current models are EURO6
Not all euro 5s were effected..SOMEowners had success with software updates.
See 500 section for more info
Current models are EURO6
Not all euro 5s were effected..SOMEowners had success with software updates.
See 500 section for more info
sandeel999
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My 2014 panda 1.2 was a bit hesitant on the throttle. Had an update and reset parameters and it goes real well now.
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/33982...sponse-hill-start-issues-watchdog-report.html
for the LONG version..,
for the LONG version..,
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i run a 2014 easy, to be honest its a liability if pulling out from a junction as it has no power unless you slip the clutch and floor it
worst fiat ive ever owned
worst fiat ive ever owned
a ECU remap would do wonders for it.
Is this even possible on the latest cars? I'd been led to believe the ECU's are locked.
Yes, they are locket when you approach them through EBD port.
But when you open them up, you can bypass that by direct EPROM coding.
The question will be: are you willing to do that.
I did it with my previous 69 hp, 1.2ltr and ending up with real 75 hp and 123 Nm of torque.
The base engine produce only 65 hp and 107 Nm of torque, and had a lot of irregularities in the power en torque lines and mid range flat spots.
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Thank you for all your helpful replies. But the bottom line is:
If I trade in my 2014 Panda at the showroom tomorrow for a brand new Panda, am I assured that the engine power problems have been overcome and rectified on current models of Panda 1.2.
If I trade in my 2014 Panda at the showroom tomorrow for a brand new Panda, am I assured that the engine power problems have been overcome and rectified on current models of Panda 1.2.
One of the most frustrating aspects of this issue is that there has been so much variability in the differing reports folks have been posting. Some were perfectly happy from day 1, some had problems that were resolved after a software update, and some never found an adequate resolution and now won't touch another Fiat for the rest of their natural lives.
The only real advice I can offer is to thoroughly test drive the specific car you will be buying, and don't commit to the purchase until you are satisfied with its performance.
At least your familiarity with your current car means you will know exactly what to look for, and how to drive it in order to find out what you need to know.
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Can anyone help please. My mum purchased a brand new fiat Panda in November last year (2015). 9 months in and the car lost all power and this knocked out the steering. She was conveniently near the garage - they charged the battery and sent her back out on the road. 10 minutes later same happened. This time AA towed her back to the garage and told the garage she should not sent out as the car was not roadworthy and this particular loss of power could have caused an accident. AA recommended they check the alternator. Garage called following day said battery was charged told her to collect the vehicle we refused and opened a case with Fiat Customer Care (which is not an appropriate name for them). They keep denying any responsibility. My mother is 75 and a widow on a state pension, she has a terminally ill brother in Norfolk and does a lot of Motorway driving. Since picking the car up again with them saying they had now cleaned the pipes from alternator (which were gunned up) - 9 months old car! This fault happened again one month later, this time we were hit by a car behind us, luckily it was just near a set of traffic lights, but my feeling is if this had happened on a motorway it could have been a fatal accident. I would be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on this fault. Fiat have said that they thought the AA were glorified car towers and are not in a position to comment. They have also stated that if we cannot find the fault the fault does not exist. We are just wanting Fiat to allow my mother to walk away and hand this death trap back to the garage with no financial penalty. Considering she has been without a car now for over a month, through no fault of her own and the stress caused to me and her dealing with Fiat who never call back and when you do get to talk to them, are very dismissive the only sensible thing I have got out of them to date is their agreement that they would not want their loved one driving that car! Can anyone help me.
Hi,
far from good service,
I don't understand the clogged tube quote..??
IF you have mechanical issues again,
get an independent engineer involved - you are being fobbed-off..
regarding the accident,
are the insurers involved with FIAT over the car stopping in the middle of the road..??
Charlie - Oxford
As your car has a intermittent fault you dont want to be using it until the problem is found , however as with all intermittent faults you will never know if its right until you have used it for a while but you dont want to be letting a 75 year old test a car with a potentialy life threatening intermittent fault, if I was you I would get trading standards involved in this .
No as the girl that hit us admitted liability. We had an independent mechanic look at the car and he said the engine is covered and when we spoke with Fiat, if he removes the cover, it could invalidate our warranty. He said that gunk build up etc in the lines to the alternator should not be prevalent in a 9 month's old vehicle. The garage and Fiat are just repeating at us if we can't find the fault - the fault does not exist. However, they have all said they would not drive the car or allow any of their loved ones to drive it. But they won't help. I have written to Watchdog and You and Yours (no response yet), but just feel cheated.
Good idea, will get a number for Trading Standards. It's been so stressful, she has been a month without a car now and still having to pay her HP agreement on a car that is sitting at the dealership. I am also very worried now that if we do walk away incurring £1,000 penalty fees that they will re-sell the vehicle to someone else. This car is a death trap and an accident waiting to happen. Does anyone know of anything I can do?
agreed,
it's a well proven engine, the 1.2, not known for "conking-out"
I'm confused by the "Tubes going to the alternator" , there are only electrical cables, and a rubber belt driving it..
there is NOTHING on the engine area that cannot be checked / inspected , that SHOULD invalidate a warranty..,
as I said you're being fobbed-off.
agreed,
it's a well proven engine, the 1.2, not known for "conking-out"
I'm confused by the "Tubes going to the alternator" , there are only electrical cables, and a rubber belt driving it..
there is NOTHING on the engine area that cannot be checked / inspected , that SHOULD invalidate a warranty..,
as I said you're being fobbed-off.
Absolutely, 300% and gold-plated fobbing off. Demand to speak in person to the Dealer Principle and tell them that Trading Standards are involved, together with the media. Keep notes (or ideally recordings) of the conversations, particularly if you can get the dealer talk about these 'tubes' from the alternator that are blocked.....! Push this with Fiat HQ too, as this is outrageous in every sense.
gar074
Prominent member
Which dealer is this? Their rough location will suffice!
The 'service' you've received is appalling! And their explanations of the fault are incoherent. There are no 'tubes' to the alternator that could get 'gummed up'! And as for threatening you that you'll invalidate the warranty should you even attempt to investigate the cause of the problem, that's a load of bull.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I get the impression from your posts that you're not very mechanically-minded. Is there someone you know who is, and who can accompany you when you tackle the dealer? That way, you're less likely to get fobbed off with ludicrously implausible explanations like gummed up tubes to the alternator. (Although I suspect you're still likely to get fobbed off by this dealer, sadly)
The 'service' you've received is appalling! And their explanations of the fault are incoherent. There are no 'tubes' to the alternator that could get 'gummed up'! And as for threatening you that you'll invalidate the warranty should you even attempt to investigate the cause of the problem, that's a load of bull.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I get the impression from your posts that you're not very mechanically-minded. Is there someone you know who is, and who can accompany you when you tackle the dealer? That way, you're less likely to get fobbed off with ludicrously implausible explanations like gummed up tubes to the alternator. (Although I suspect you're still likely to get fobbed off by this dealer, sadly)
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